3/25/15: Florida State announced a great neutral site game against Ole Miss for 2016 just a few months ago, and they are looking to expand on that. The Rebels are a formidable opponent, to be sure, but they are not the cream of the SEC. FSU, reportedly, is trying to schedule neutral site games with Alabama and Auburn. The rumor for now is that the Seminoles could play the Crimson Tide in Atlanta in 2017 in the new Atlanta Falcons stadium. There is also a chance to play Auburn in Jacksonville in 2019. Now those should be some great games.

3/18/15: The defensive line looks to be a major point of focus for the Florida State Seminoles next season, particularly in regards to the pass rush and affecting opposing quarterbacks. The Seminoles had a few good years of QB pressure, averaging about 3.5 sacks per game in 2012 and 2013. However, that number dropped in half in 2014, which allowed opposing offenses to victimize the Noles far too often. There is now a renewed focus on the front seven and Florida State expects to inflict more pressure. FSU has won the ACC for the last three seasons, but without a pass rush, it will be hard to win a fourth.

3/11/15: Florida State is bowing out the chest these days as their Heisman Trophy award winning and National Champion-leading QB Jameis Winston is likely to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft in two months. Actually, FSU is a good place to go for high school quarterbacks that want to play in the NFL. Including Winston, the last three full-time starting QBs of the Seminoles have been drafted in the first round. Jimbo Fisher has a lot to do with that because he trains his QBs well and puts them in a pro-style offense that NFL teams prefer.

3/4/15: With the NFL Combine complete, a few more weeks until players have their customized Pro Days and two full months before the draft, it is time for the way-too-early mock drafts as well overthinking what every team will do. At least that is what the media is doing right now. Others, like Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon are keeping it simple. He says that FSU's Jameis Winston will be the first overall pick. Gordon noted the way Winston plays and what every quarterback needs but few have: his swagger. There is a lot of truth to that, though, as other players are naturally drawn to Winston and that will have a big effect on whatever team he ends up with.

2/25/15: Former FSU QB Jameis Winston continued to make headlines, even when he was being good. Winston (as well as Baylor QB Bryce Petty) went up the University of Michigan to train with head coach Jim Harbaugh for a few days before the combine. Winston praised Harbaugh and the Michigan facilities, so of course that was misconstrued as an insult to Noles head coach Jimbo Fisher and the Florida State facilities. But there is not much other news, so the media has to find something to talk about. With just over two month until the NFL draft, Winston still looks like the odds on favorite to be the first overall pick to Tampa Bay.

2/18/15: Some say former Florida State QB Jameis Winston cannot catch a break, while others insist that he does not deserve one. Winston may well be the first overall pick in the May NFL Draft, something that seems even more likelier since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released veteran QB Josh McCown last week. Also last week, a photo made its rounds through the internet showing Winston working out, but appearing with a rather large belly. His trainer explains that he was tethered at the waist, creating the bulge. Still, internet trolls and faceless cyber-thugs insist that Winston is out of shape and destined to be the next JaMarcus Russell. He should probably be given a couple of years before laying out the bust label, though.

2/11/15: The Seminoles had enjoyed a very high ranking in their 2015 recruiting class for several months, wavering somewhere in the top 5 throughout the process. Then came National Signing Day. Many alerts came through where top prospect X had been flipped from FSU or the school rescinded a scholarship offer. It was enough to make a casual observer believe that Noles had lost a lot of talent. Then came the final tallies and FSU finished third (by consensus). What does that mean? It means that the Seminoles will continue to be a national powerhouse and there may be more championships in the future.

2/4/15: Its National Signing Day time and the Florida State Seminoles are once again bringing in a top tier class. Rivals has the Noles ranked fourth, behind Alabama, USC and Clemson, but FSU is known for closing well. There was some confusion earlier in the week when four-star QB recruit Deondre Francois sent out a tweet saying "I'm officially decommiting from the university of florida state.". There is no University of Florida State and Francois later tweeted that his account was hacked and that he was "...still 100% committed to FSU". Hopefully it was a hack and Francois will sign with FSU.

1/28/15: Florida State is down to a race now. While Nick Saban and Urban Meyer get the big accolades about being the best two coaches in college football, do not discount Florida State's Jimbo Fisher. He has not been a head coach as long as the other two, but does have a national title to his name and consistently pulls in top ranked recruiting classes. This year is no different. With just a week to go, FSU has the #2 ranked recruiting class by Rivals, but the Noles are known for closing late. Expect this recruiting class to be no different, and expect the Noles to be at the top of the college rankings for years to come.

1/21/15: All said and done, the Florida State Seminoles finished the 2014 season with an outstanding 13-1 record and a tie for fifth in the final AP poll. They managed to win 29 straight games dating back to the 2012 season, which included three ACC Championships, one Orange Bowl victory and one National Championship. All in all, that is a pretty good haul. But it is time to turn the page as several key members of those teams such as QB Jameis Winston and defensive lineman Eddie Golman are headed to the pro ranks. Don't fear, Seminole fans. FSU has been a recruiting machine for the last few years and they should be strong again next season.

1/14/15: Florida State made it to the first ever college football playoffs, but were knocked out in the Rose Bowl by Oregon. That ended their streak of 29 straight wins, one of the longest streaks in NCAA history. With the season over, the program (as is every year) morphed into an NFL factory. Four key players have already declared early for the draft: 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jamies Winston, cornerbacks P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby, and defensive end Mario Edwards. The good news for the Noles is that placekicker Roberto Aguayo - arguably one of the best college kickers of all time - is staying and the program has a great recruiting class lined up.

1/7/15: As glorious as the 2013 season was, the 2014 season for the Florida State Seminoles was equally maddening. The Noles won all of their games this regular season - the only team in the top college ranks to do that. They earned a spot in the Rose Bowl against Oregon in the first ever College Football Playoffs. But, where they showed cool and resolve in the second half of so many games this season, this time it was too much. Oregon ran away from FSU in the second half, capitalizing on many Seminole turnovers. While that ended their 29 game winning streak, FSU is stocked for next year and should again bring in a top 10 recruiting class.

12/3/14: The Seminoles took down the rival Florida Gators 24-19 last Saturday, and in doing so: 1) extended their winning streak to 27 games, 2) completed the regular season undefeated, and 3) won the state of Florida "championship" again. UF took an early lead but, again, FSU rallied and held on. QB Jameis Winston played his worst game ever with less than 150 yards passing, two TDs and four interceptions - three of which were in the first quarter. Still, FSU was too strong for the Gators and will play Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game this Saturday.

11/19/14: The media pundits keep picking against the Seminole, but the Noles keep winning. They improved to 10-0 on the season with their fifth come-from-behind win over the host Miami Hurricanes. Miami put up a 16-0 lead before Jameis Winston and the gang got going. But the second half belonged to FSU, who outscored the Canes 20-3, resulting in the 30-26 win. It may not be pretty, but Florida State is the only team that has not lost this season. The Noles have wrapped up their division in the ACC, but do have one more conference game (aside from the ACC Championship) against visiting Boston College this Saturday.

11/12/14: It was not FSU's prettiest game, but again the Seminoles won. Hosting the feisty Virginia Cavaliers should have been an easy task, but the Noles again struggled in much of first half and committed three turnovers. All three of those turnovers resulted in Virginia touchdowns. But the Noles defense cause three turnovers as well, and those also resulted in scores. The win puts FSU at 9-0 on the season and 6-0 in ACC play. This week will be a tough one when FSU heads down to rival Miami, which many feel the Hurricanes can win, especially since they are coming off of a bye.

11/5/14: The Noles did it again. Florida State was down big to another ranked opponent and rallied in the second half to win. Many 'experts' picked against the Seminoles in their Thursday Night Game at Louisville, and they looked prescient for the first half as the Cardinals took a 21-0 lead. However, as FSU is prone to do, they battled back with five second half touchdowns to earn a 42-31 win over No. 25 Louisville. FSU stays in the playoff hunt with a win and has an extra couple of days to rest and rehab before hosting Virginia this Saturday.

10/29/14: The Noles may have set a record for most calls from the media for them to drop in the standings after they defeated Notre Dame a couple of weeks ago. The game included a controversial (but correct) call that negated the Irish's winning touchdown. Lost in this was that the Noles battled back in the second half and actually won the game. In any case, Florida State is ranked second, is undefeated, has signature wins and is in line for a playoff spot if they can win out. The 7-0, 4-0 Seminoles had a bye last week and are heading north to face the Louisville Cardinals on Thursday, October 30th.

10/22/14: Number 2 ranked FSU may have won the best game of the entire college football season - rallying to beat the visiting No. 5 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. The Irish controlled most of the first half and took a 17-10 lead to half time. But the Noles showed why they have not been beaten in almost two years. They dug deep and set the tone in the second half. After limiting the Irish to a field goal, the Noles scored the go-ahead touchdown with almost eight minutes left. Notre Dame had the final possession and had several chances from "and goal" situations, but the Noles defense held strong and earned the 31-27 win. Not many games are going to compare to this one. Good thing for FSU they have a bye next week and can avoid the dreaded 'trap' game.

10/15/14: Florida State continues to just win. They extended the nation's longest winning streak to 22 games by easily beating the Syracuse Orange on the road, 38-20. The win improved the Seminoles to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the ACC. QB Jameis Winston had a big day with 317 yards passing and three touchdowns. But this game was just the appetizer for potentially the biggest game of the season. Unbeaten Notre Dame will come to town in a matchup of two top five teams. The winner may have a clear path to the playoffs while the loser may just have to settle for a quality bowl game. All eyes will be on Tallahassee for sure.

10/8/14: The No. 1 ranked Seminoles have taken a lot of criticism through the first five weeks of the season because they have not been blowing out opponents like last year. Of course, they have rallied or held on to beat some pretty good teams in Oklahoma State, Clemson and North Carolina State. FSU blew out the visiting Wake Forest Demon Deacons 43-3 last Saturday, which is what we are used to. Considering that No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 6 Texas A&M all lost, FSU is looking pretty good these days. And still number one. The Noles are on the road this Saturday to face Syracuse in an ACC matchup.

10/1/14: Florida State may want to change their name from Seminoles to Houdinis. For the second week in a row and the third time this season, FSU managed to escape a close game with a strong team with a win. Last Saturday, the escape was on the road against North Carolina State. NC State has given the Noles fits over the years, and even took a 24-7 lead in the first quarter. FSU was still down by 10 points in the third quarter before mounting a tremendous comeback and winning 56-41. There may be dents in the armor, but FSU is finding ways to win. Like champions do. The Noles are back home on Saturday to host Wake Forest.

9/24/14: what a week for FSU. Starting QB and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston was suspended for the entire game against ACC rival Clemson (ranked 22). That gave Clemson a great chance for the upset, and the upset almost happened. The Tigers defense was ferocious all night, the FSU did just enough to stay in the game. Clemson really lost this game as they made several key mistakes that the Seminoles took advantage of, including fumbling on the 14 yard line at the end of the game. FSU won in overtime and kept their 19 game winning streak alive. Winston is back this Saturday and going forward.

9/17/14: The Seminoles had a bye week last weekend. They mopped up the Citadel 37-12 a week earlier, after which a Citadel offensive lineman admitted to aiming at the knees of FSU defensive line players. In any case, the Noles face the Clemson Tigers on Saturday at home. FSU destroyed Clemson on the road a year ago, setting the stage for their championship run. FSU may be better this year and the Tigers may be a bit worse. But it will still be a fierce game in what is quickly becoming the best rivalry in the ACC.

8/28/14: How good is Florida State? Well, they were good enough to break the SEC's strangle-hold on the National Championship last season and good enough to get 57 of 60 votes for the top ranking in the first AP poll this season. The Seminoles may have lost a few players, but they have been a recruiting dynamo for the past several years, so there is no reason to think that they are about to drop out of being relevent any time soon. In fact, one ACC coach said that half of the conference does not have a player that could start for FSU. Those are heady proclamations, but the Noles have the roster to repeat as National Champs.

8/21/14: The Florida State Seminoles are the reigning National Champion (do not say 'defending' around head coach Jimbo Fisher) and they return much of the team that won the BCS Championship over Auburn back in January. That includes quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jamies Winston. So it should come as no surprise that the Noles are first in the AP preseason poll. FSU captured 57 of 60 first place votes. Alabama was ranked second, Oregon was third, Oklahoma was fourth, while Ohio State took fifth. FSU is the odds-on favorite to make the first college football playoff this season as well.

8/14/14: Winning the National Championship is always good. FSU landed another top recruiting class shortly after, got a lot of national exposure, and of course, sold a lot of merchandise. The Collegiate Licensing Company announced the rankings of school licensing revenue. While Texas continued to lead the country, FSU had a huge jump from July 2013 to July 2014. The Noles shot up from 21st to 8th overall in that time period. FSU is the current betting favorite to win the first college football playoff (for Division 1), as well as the overwhelming favorite to win the ACC once again.

8/7/14: It is good to be king. And that is what Florida State is right now - kings of college football., The coaches around the country voted on their rankings for the first real poll of the season, and FSU nearly unanimously took home first place. That is a lofty position, but is justified by being the reigning (not defending, according to head coach Jimbo Fisher) National Champions. The Noles will return a boatload of starters that won the BCS Championship last January and are stocked up on recruits. Good times ahead for FSU and their pursuit of consecutive championships.

7/31/14: Everyone knows that the FSU is not just the reigning ACC Champion, but that they are the reigning NCAA Champion as well. The ACC is not considered to be as strong as other Power 5 conferences, but their top teams (FSU and Clemson) rank with anyone. So it should come as no surprise that FSU led the conference in preseason All-ACC Team players. The Seminoles placed nine men on the list, including Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Wiston, running back Karlos Williams (who could have a monster season) and offensive lineman Cameron Erving. FSU is loaded this season and could well repeat as national champs.

7/24/14: The silly awards watch season is over, finally. As the defending National Champions who happen to have the 2013 Heisman Trophy Award Winner on their team (Jamies Winston), there were several Seminoles on the various 'watch lists' for college football awards. Winston, himself, is on the Watch List for the Walter Camp Award for the nation's top player. Should Winston win it, as he did last season, he would be only the fourth player to do it in consecutive seasons. The others are O.J. Simpson, Archie Griffin and Colt McCoy. Of course watch lists mean very little, as Winston was not on the national radar even 12 months ago.

7/17/14: ACC Media Days are upon us and the star of the show is obviously Heisman Trophy winner and starting QB for the reigning National Champions, Jameis Winston. The speculation continues as to how long Winston will stay in the college ranks before going pro. Winston, his father and even head coach Jimbo Fisher have stated that Winston will stay for two more years, even though he is eligible for three. However, until the draft passes next spring, the questions will continue to linger. For his part, Winston says that he enjoys playing two sports at FSU and wants to get his degree. Good news for Noles fans.

7/10/14: Most news items about college football this time of year have to do with arrests or transfers, which generally are not good stories for major programs. But the Seminoles had something nicer to look at last weekend than a police blotter. ASCAR's Brian Vicker's number 55 Toyota was given a paintjob to commemorate the Noles' national championship for the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona. Vickers drives for Michael Waltrip Racing, who honored BCS champions Alabama and Auburn in recent years at the annual spring race in Talladega. Even nicer for the Noles? Daytona is only about 90 minutes from arch rival UF.

7/3/14: When you are the National Champion in college football, everyone else wants to take swings at you. It is no different for the FSU Seminoles as the first shot has been fired by Notre Dame (or at least by Notre Dame fans). A T-shirt surfaced this weeks proclaiming "Catholics vs. Criminoles" with a little crab next to Criminoles. Obviously, this is not a sanctioned rendering from Notre Dame University, and the crab is to poke fun at Jamies Winston. Of course, the Irish players have their own legal issues with Will Mahone - and that is much more serious than stealing some crab legs.

6/26/14: This story will not go away, and will be on the national radar until Jameis Winston either stays at Florida State beyond the required three years removed from high school or he goes to the NFL (or MLB). But Winston's father re-iterated what Jameis said a few months ago, that Winston will stay at FSU and play two more years of football. He is eligible to enter the NFL draft after his next season. But Winston seems to enjoy being a two sport star and the success he has had with the Seminoles. Of course, that may well change in a few months. But it is good news now for FSU fans.

6/19/14: Florida State is the reigning champion of all of college football. Getting to that pinnacle was not easy. It required thousands of hours of recruiting, coaching, breaking down gametape, practicing and beating the best teams in the country. But they did it and they are the champs. It is proving harder to get to the White House, though. It is traditional for the champs to get feted at the White House and meet the President. However, FSU and the White House have not been able to find a date that works for both sides. While it would be nice to get the Presidential treatment, winning another championship would be better.

6/12/14: Wide receiver Kevin Benjamin caught the game winning pass from QB Jameis Winston in the National Championship Game in January. KB is in the NFL now, having been drafted in the first round by the receiver-depleted Carolina Panthers. FSU still has a strong stable of receivers on the roster, but they may want to look at Winston. In a new social media posting, Winston throws the ball...to himself! Granted there is no defense, but how great of a play would it be if he did that in an actual game (especially against Florida or Miami). It would be shown for years and bring even more attention to Winston and FSU.

6/6/14: We all knew this was coming; the inevitable backlash against Florida State and head coach Jimbo Fisher for Fisher's comment that he wanted to play Alabama in the National Championship Game. Fisher, of course had to clarify his statements, saying that he was complementing the entire SEC. Alabama had been national champion for two straight years, and was going for their fourth title in five years. Most people seemed to understand that Fisher was not knocking Auburn, but rather was praising the entire conference. But some people just want to find a story and create drama.

5/29/14: When FSU played for the National Championship in February (which they won in a thrilling game), they said they did not care who they played and were glad to be playing an SEC team. Their win ended the SEC's run on consecutive National Championships at seven - and the nation cheered. However, head coach Jimbo Fisher recently said at a booster's rally that they really wanted to play Alabama. Fisher was a long-time Nick Saban assistant, and most people generally regarded the Tide as the best team in the SEC. It does not matter now. FSU is the reigning Champ, regardless of who they played.

5/22/14: Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher has come under fire in the past week for saying that he would not discipline Hiesman Trophy winning QB Jameis Winston for the crab legs theft. Fisher's reasoning is that FSU baseball coach Mark Martin already did that, as Winston is the closer for the #4 ranked Seminoles. He did add, though, that he would have disciplined him if it had been football season. Fisher is right in avoiding the double jeopardy, but people will always call for 'justice' when they are looking for something to complain about. That being said, Winston must mature quickly.

5/15/14: There were some experts that speculated that the Seminoles would not have any players taken in the first round, which is a rarely these days. To them: Do not question The Spear! Once again, FSU was represented in the opening frame of the NFL draft. Wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was taken 28th overall by the receiving-depleted Panthers. Kelvin will always be remembered at FSU as the guy that caught the winning TD pass in the National Championship Game in 2014. Now he is set to be the big target that Cam Newton needs and should be playing right away.

5/8/14: Obviously the big story out of Tallahassee was starting QB and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston getting a citation for stealing $32 worth of crablegs and crawfish. It is the latest in a line of off field missteps by Winston, and he simply has to be smarter about what he does when he is a citizen. The new slogan by rivals is "Free Seafood University", which conjures up the "Free Shoes University" term from 1999. Of course, that is still not as good as "It's Great To Be A Four And Eighter" that the Seminoles fans have been slinging at the Gators since their 4-8 season.

5/1/14: To say the 2013 season for the Florida State Seminoles football program was a success would be a severe understatement. The team went 14-0, won the ACC, humiliated their biggest rivals (see: Clemson and Florida), won the National Championship, and had a Heisman Trophy winning QB (who still has three years of eligibility left). Often overshadowed was running back Karlos Williams. With James Wilder Jr. and Devonte Freeman both going to the NFL, Williams figures to be the feature back next season. He is big, fast, and a major game changer for the Noles. Expect to hear his name called early and often.

4/24/14: Seminoles' head coach Jimbo Fisher was fortunate enough to learn from two the greats in the college game: Bobby Bowden (FSU) and Nick Saban (at LSU). He is generally considered to be cut from the Saban cloth, but there is one notable distinction. Whereas Saban seems to disregard his past successes and only focuses on 'what's next'. Fisher wants his team to enjoy the success they earned with last season's national championship. Fisher believes that they did not enjoy their championship at LSU as much as they should have, so he wants his players to bask in the glory from last season. Of course, only to an extent.

4/17/14: Florida State held their annual Garnet and Gold Spring Football Game last Saturday, and who else would be the star other than the best college football player in the country? Jamies Winston continued his brilliance with a monster game, throwing for 396 yards and two touchdowns. Winston and the first team offense led the Garnet team, while Mario Edwards Jr. and the first team defense led the Gold team. Garnet won 31-14. It is still early, but Noles fans remember that this game, one year ago, was Winston's introduction to college football, which ended with a Heisman Trophy and the National Championship.

4/10/14: Florida State leaked out an updated version of their iconic Seminole logo this past week, which was met with less than enthusiastic responses. The new logo no longer features the words "Florida State", but instead uses "FSU". The features of the man's face and hair have changed, and the warpaint is no longer black, but rather garnet and gold - the official school colors. It is not a major re-design, but an updating of the original logo, which has been in tact since it debuted in 1971. The reason for the change is somewhat confusing, but National Champions have their prerogative. Now the question is if the school will have to put the new logos in the newly completed locker room, or if they are already installed.

4/3/14: It is well-known that FSU's Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Jameis Winston, is also a releif pitcher for the Seminoles' baseball team. Like their football counterpart, the Noles' nine is ranked #1 in the country as well. Word got out last week that the Seminoles and Gators baseball squads got into a brawl. That is not really the case. Both benches emptied but no punches were thrown. Winston rushed out with his teammates but there was no real fight. He did sign the hat of a Gators fan, and wrote 37-7 on it. That was the score of the FSU/UF football game last fall.

3/20/14: When you win the National Championship, you get new opportunities. Such is the case with the Florida State Seminoles. FSU announce a major renovation of training facilities which include 'state of the art graphics and technology". Last year, both Alabama and Oregon announced major upgrades to their training facilities which resemble more of a luxury lifestyle than the practice areas of a football program. FSU's new facility will pay homage to the great tradition of Florida State football, including their championship seasons of 1993, 1999, and 2013. It may not win championships, but certainly will get the interest of prized recruits.

3/27/14: Florida State University has a bona-fide star on their hands with Jameis Winston. Winston, of course, won the Heisman Trophy last season while leading the Seminoles to an undefeated record and the national championship. Every time a Nole wins the Heisman, the team wins the national championship game - Charlie Ward in the 1993 season and Chris Wienke in the 199 season. Winston is also the closer for the Seminoles baseball team, which is among the best in the NCAA. And they are not interfering, as Winston missed only one spring football practice due to the baseball schedule.

3/13/14: One of the knocks against Florida State (and there are very few) is that they play in the ACC. No one doubts that other conferences - particularly the SEC and Pac 12 are stronger from top to bottom. By definition, the Seminoles have a relatively easier path to the NCAA Championship than teams from tougher conferences. However, looking at the schedules for 2014 shows the Noles have a tough stretch. One review shows FSU with the eighth toughest schedule among title contenders. In fact, they have Oklahoma State, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Louisville on the schedule next season, so they will have a tougher road than this past season when they won the Championship.

2/20/14: The Seminoles still have a shot at five star recruit Malik McDowell, apparently. McDowell's parents never wanted him to stay in-state and attend Michigan State University. So while McDowell sent in his letter of intent to the Spartans, it is not valid because his custodial parent (mother in this case) never signed it. So that leaves both Ohio State and Florida State as the remaining options. Malik is a five-star defensive lineman, and the Noles have put forth a few good ones into the pros over the past few years. He is expected to visit Tallahassee in the near future.

3/6/14: Former Seminoles head coach and legend Bobby Bowden used to say that he wants it noted on his tombstone that he always played Florida. That tradition will continue as FSU and the University of Florida have agreed upon an extension to keep the classic state of Florida game going through 2018. Overall, the Gators lead the series (dating back to 1959) 34-22-2. The Noles have won four of the last five. And that overall record includes FSU's early years as a football team, when they were terrible. The game in 2014 will be in Tallahassee, part of a very compelling schedule that includes Notre Dame and Clemson.

2/27/14: With the ACC adding Louisville to the mix next season, and losing Maryland, as well as the fact that the National Championship will be decided with a four team playoff, the ACC has been discussing their scheduling. The conference needs as many high profile games as possible, so keeping some big rivalries with SEC teams is a must. FSU does not want to lose its traditional rivalry game with Florida, and it looks like that will stay in tact. The Seminoles have a great home schedule in 2014, including Clemson, Notre Dame and Florida. Likewise, season ticket sales have increased with an additional 5,000 being sold already.

2/13/14: A few weeks ago, Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher said he thought star quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston would play two more years. That is in stark contrast to popular opinion which has the redshrit freshman playing one more year before heading to the NFL draft. For his part, Winston agreed with Fisher. Winston is also a star baseball player and wants some more time with the Noles baseball team to win a national championship there, as well. Time will tell if his schedule will change, but for now, the Noles may have Winston at QB for two more seasons.

2/6/14: Florida State has had three Heisman Trophy winners: Charlie Ward (1993), Chris Wienke (1999), and Jameis Winston (2013). Not only have they won the most prestigious award in college football, they each led their teams to the national championship. Even better, Winston has a chance at a second Heisman and championship. But this is about Charlie Ward. Ward is going close to home in Pensacola, FL to be the head coach of Booker T. Washington High football program. Ward never played in the NFL, and had a pretty successful career in the NBA. Sitll, he is a legend in the Panhandle, so best of luck.

1/30/14: Any successful coach will tell you that it is tough to keep a winning team together. Several Noles are leaving early for the NFL, which is to be expected. A few have expired their eligibility, and that is part of the system. FSU defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt left the program for another opportunity. Finally, it looks like backup quarterback Jacob Coker is headed to Alabama. He has a couple years of eligibility left and is a fine QB. However, he is stuck behind Jameis Winston, so he would have a tough time seeing the field next season. The move hurts QB depth, but Coker is good enough to start almost anywhere, and he deserves that opportunity.

1/23/14: The Seminoles are losing a few great players from their BCS Championship team to the NFL. Most notably, running backs Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr., wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, and defensive tackle Timmy Jurnigan have all opted to leave early. That would be cause for concern on many teams, but the Noles have recruited extremely well for years and there are top tier guys ready to make their mark. They have also been able to flip UF recruit Davin Cook (running back) and may get his close friend, who happens to be a top WR.

1/16/14: Its good to be king. The Seminoles will go down in history as the last team to win the BCS Championship. Also of note, FSU (under head coach Bobby Bowden) played in the first three BCS Championship Games, winning in 2000 (1999 season) over Virginia Tech. Next season will be the first with a playoff, and the Noles seem set for that. Three key starters, including running back Karlos Williams and tight end Nick O'Leary have committed to returning instead of going to the NFL. FSU has had a lot of great recruiting classes, so expect them to be in the mix next year as well.

1/9/14: Champions! That single word sums up the Florida State Seminoles. FSU rallied from an 18 point deficit to beat Auburn 34-33. Head coach Jimbo Fisher rolled the dice with fake punt late in the second quarter. The fake paid off and eventually led to a touchdown. FSU defense owned the third quarter, allowing the offense to inch back into the game. Add in a 102 yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a gutsy 80 yard drive with 1:11 remaining, including the winning touchdown with 13 seconds left - and the Seminoles are the National Champions. The look to repeat next year too.

1/2/14: Just four days until FSU takes on Auburn in the BCS Championship Game. This is the fourth time the Seminoles have been in the BCS Championship Game - they were in the first three, and fittingly, in the final version against an SEC team. Star QB Jameis Winston has been racking up the awards in the gap between the regular season and the bowls. He has won the Heisman Trophy, the Walter Camp National Player of the Year Award, and the Davey O'Brien Award. He now adds the AP Player of the Year Award, becoming the first Seminole to take home the honor.

12/26/13: With Nick Saban out of the mix for the University of Texas head coaching job, a lot of eyes are turning towards FSU's Jimbo Fisher. Fisher is a logical choice, having turned the Seminole's program around and getting FSU to the BCS Championship Game this season. However, many believe that Fisher will stay put. While Texas can offer more money and buy out his extension, Fisher already has a premier program that is winning under his leadership. Also, he would probably have to take the job before the Championship game as well as sacrifice a chance to play for the title next year too. Chances are that Jimbo is well entrenched in Tallahassee.

12/19/13: The Downtown Athletic Club announced their Heisman Trophy winner last Saturday, and it was redshirt freshman QB Jameis Winston in a landslide. Winston has been racking up the awards lately - recognition for his outstanding season. Now that the awards season is over, it is time to get back to work. The Noles face Auburn in the BCS Championship Game in Pasadena, Calfornia on January 6. An interesting note - two other Seminoles have won the Heisman, QBs Charlie Ward and Chris Wienke. Both led the Noles to the Championship in the season they won the award.

12/12/13: FSU continued their roll by decimating the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC Championship Game 34-7. FSU is the only team from a major conference that is undefeated this season and now has a month to prepare for the Auburn Tigers in the BCS Championship Game in Pasadena, California. The Noles started off very slowly and the score was tied at 0-0 after one quarter. The team settled down and methodically put up 34 straight points in the second and third quarters to roll to the win. QB Jameis Winston was not charged in his legal issues and was named the MVP of the game.

12/5/13: FSU finished the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record by overwhelming in-state rival Florida 37-7. The Seminoles cruised to a win behind three touchdown receptions by Kelvin Benjamin and another strong day from QB Jameis Winston. Combined with Alabama's loss, the Seminoles moved into first in the BCS, and are expected to play for the championship should they win the ACC Championship. FSU will face Duke in that game this Saturday and is expected to win handily over an inferior opponent. A win would be the second consecutive ACC Championship for the Noles who look like they are returning to their dominant ways of the 90's.

11/28/13: Florida State had a gimme game against the Idaho Vandals in Tallahassee last Saturday. The Noles were favored by 57 heading into the game and more than covered with an 80-14 victory. Florida State was never in danger in this game and wanted to come out of it without any significant injuries. The Noles removed most of their starters for the second half, which was to be expected. FSU heads to Gainesville next week to take on Florida in their annual rivalry game. It is not expected to be much of a rivalry as Florida only has four wins this season and just lost to Georgia Southern at home.

11/21/13: Another week, another ACC decimation by the Seminoles. FSU became the first team to both score at least 59 points and give up three or less to a conference opponent three times in one season by embarrassing the Syracuse Orange 59-3. The game was essentially over in the first quarter as FSU rolled up a 28-0 lead on four straight scoring drives. As expected, the Noles took out their starters for the second half, which gives the backups quality playing time. FSU is still ranked #2 in the BCS and should make the National Championship Game if they remain unbeaten.

11/14/13: FSU got a big gift last week, several days before they routed Wake Forest 59-3. The gift came from #5 Stanford beating down #3 Oregon last week. Had Oregon won, they would have had the inside track for the National Championship game. The loss keeps FSU squarely at #2 and a likely shot at the title. The Noles win on Saturday secured their place in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte in a month. Their opponent is still to be decided and could be either Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Duke, or Miami as those four teams all have a chance at winning the ACC Coastal Division.

11/7/13: The Seminoles continue to prove that they are among the top teams in college football. They hosted the #7 ranked Miami Hurricanes last Saturday and routed their fellow undefeated Florida team 41-14. Red-shirt freshman sensation QB Jameis Winston threw for over 300 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions, while running back Devonta Freeman added 89 yards and two scores. The Noles led 21-14 at halftime and simply dominated the second half. FSU needs a loss by Alabama or Oregon to ensure they have a shot at the National Championship, and Oregon plays #5 Stanford this Thursday.

10/31/13: FSU hosted N.C. State last Saturday in a classic trap game. They destroyed the #3 ranked Clemson Tigers at Clemson the week before and host the #7 Miami Hurricanes the following week. N.C. State was the only ACC team to beat the Noles last season, ending any hope of playing for the National Championship. That would not repeat itself this time. The Noles jumped to a 35-0 lead in the first quarter and ended the game before it started. This Saturday will be another huge test when the undefeated Hurricanes come to town with bragging rights and National hopes on the line.

10/24/13: Florida State must be recognized as the best team in the ACC after completely obliterating and embarrassing Clemson up at Clemson. It was the biggest game for the ACC in the last decade. Gameday did their broadcast from the Clemson campus and the Tigers wanted to set a record for the loudest crowd. FSU did not care about any of the peripherals - they just came to take ownership of the ACC, and they did with a 51-14 rout, which wasn't even that close. FSU moved up to number 3 in polls and should be considered a National Championship contender as long as they take care of business the rest of the season.

10/17/13: The Noles had a bye week, which is probably good for them right now. The team is ranked 7th in the nation, though there are doubters out there because they have only played one top 25 team. That was Maryland, whom they destroyed 63-0. FSU has their biggest test of the season next week when they head to Clemson for an ACC showdown. FSU got some good news when it was determined by both the ACC and the NCAA that Jacobi McDaniels did not target Maryland QB C.J. Brown on a hit that knocked Brown out of the game. He will be eligible to play against Clemson.

10/10/13: A lot of experts put the Noles on 'upset alert' going into Saturday's showdown against #25 Maryland. Maryland destroyed the West Virginia Mountaineers a few weeks ago and had a good looking offense. FSU took notice and tied a record for largest margin of victory over a top 25 team with a 63-0 rout. The defense looked much better after giving up over 30 points to Boston College a week prior. The win sets up a top 10 and ACC showdown next week. Florida State travels to Clemson for what should be the biggest game of the weekend.

10/3/13: FSU scored another road victory against an ACC rival on Saturday, knocking off Boston College in Boston 48-34. FSU was down 14 points early before redshirt freshman Jamies Winston rallied the team for a seven point halftime lead. Winston made what may be the play of the year on the final play of the first half. He somehow eluded two sacks and heaved a 50 yard bomb for a touchdown. BC put up a fight in the second half, and the Nole defense was not as strong as it usually is, but the win keeps the Seminoles ranked 8th in the country. Next up is a home match against the surprising Maryland Terrapins.

9/26/13: Florida State played their second home game of the season on Saturday. This game was over when it was scheduled as the Noles hosted Bethune-Cookman College, and FCS school. FSU won 54-6 in their tune-up for the heart of the season. QB Jameis Winston threw fro 148 yards and two touchdowns. Head coach Jimbo Fisher thought there was a lot of room for improvement on offense, such as running back James Wilder Jr. fumbling on the three yard line. The defending ACC champs are 3-0 overall and 1-0 in conference. They travel to Boston College to face the Eagles next week.

9/19/13: That redshirt freshman QB Jameis Winston had a sensational debut at Pitt on Labor Day, on national television, is old news. The chatter from some Florida media, who need to create a news story, centered on how he would do in his first home start. The suggestion was that if he was not as spectacular as in Week 1, then it would be a let down. That 'controversy' was laid to rest on Saturday. The Seminoles were out of sync for most of the first half. They only led 17-7 at halftime. Then they destroyed Nevada, scoring 31 points in the third quarter. All four FSU running backs had touchdowns. Jameis threw two TDs and ran another in himself. Jameis' day ended midway through the third quarter as the Noles put the game out of reach. FSU racked up 377 yards rushing in the 62-7 win. FSU hosts Bethune-Cookman College next week before going to Boston College on September 28.

9/12/13: The Seminoles like to play on Labor Day Night. It is a Monday before the NFL season and they have a monopoly on the football games. This year was no exception as the Noles destroyed the Pitt Panthers (in their ACC welcoming) 41-13. FSU ushered in the Jameis Winston era with a bang, and now expectations are sky-high. If Winston can continue to play at such a high level then the experts that picked them to finish behind Clemson will be eating their words. The Seminoles have the week off as they prepare to host the University of Nevada Wolfpack in their home opener on September 14.

9/4/13: World meet Jameis Winston. Winston, this is the World. Winston is the redshirt freshman starting quarterback of the Florida state Seminoles. He played his first collegiate game on Monday at ACC newcomer Pitt and proceeded to pick apart the defense with the poise of a veteran and the skill of world-class surgeon. Winston threw for four touchdowns and added another running while setting marks for completion percentage (over 92%). The 41-13 win is a good start for the Noles who are now ranked 11th. Florida State now has a bye week before hosting the University of Nevada Wolfpack in their home opener.

8/29/13: The talk in the ACC is that Clemson is the team to beat. But FSU has something to say about that. FSU has been among the tops in the nation in recruiting for the past several years, so the fact that they are starting a lot of new faces does not phase them. FSU will play Clemson in Death Valley in October, with the winner likely having the inside track for the Coastal Division title and a shot in the ACC Championship Game. The last question remaining for the Noles is the starting quarterback, but most reports indicate it will be redshirt freshman Jamies Winston.

8/22/13: The season opener is right around the corner, and that will be a Monday night game at ACC newcomer Pitt. This will be an interesting year for the Seminoles. Many believe it is a make or break year for head coach Jimbo Fisher. Fisher has led the team to an ACC championship and Orange Bowl victory last year, but many believe that he has underachieved considering 11 players from last year's team were drafted into the NFL. The Noles have six new assistant coaches, including Jeremy Pruitt, as the defensive coordinator. Clemson is the consensus pick for the ACC, but not if the Noles have anything to say about it.

8/15/13: Only a few more weeks until the college football season kicks off, and Seminole fans are giddy with anticipation. Rival Clemson was selected to win the Atlantic division and the conference championship over the Noles, who are the defending champion in both. FSU opens the season on the road, welcoming ACC newcomer University of Pittsburgh on Monday, September 2. It will be a good test for the Seminoles to start the season, and the team wants to make a good impression in the nationally televised game. Head coach Jimbo Fisher has not named the starting QB yet, but most expect it to be redshirt sophomore "Famous" Jamious Winston.

8/8/13: In case you missed it - and most Florida State fans did not - Clemson is the consensus pick to win the ACC this coming season. Clemson and FSU are in the same division, so they cannot meet for the Conference Championship Game. Instead, most pundits picked Clemson to win the ACC outright, which would imply the Tigers beating the Noles. But this is just the motivation that FSU needs - they want to be undervalued and simply win every game outright this season. While FSU may have a litany of new coaches, they still have the most talent in the ACC.

8/1/13: It has been a tough summer for Florida State tight ends, but nothing worse than Nick O'Leary crashing his motorcycle. There is video available, showing O'Leary riding down a road when a car pulls out in front of him. O'Leary slammed into the car and flipped off the bike. The crash could have killed him, yet he walked away with minor injuries, thank goodness. O'Leary is also the grandson of golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, and is the starting tight end for the Seminoles. He is expected to be fully healed and even take on a bigger role in the offense this season.

7/25/13: The Seminoles have been racking up commitments for top recruits faster than Urban Meyer's Gator teams racked up arrests. FSU recently got recruit number 19 in local running back Jonathan Vickers, who also had offers from Alabama and Stanford. The Noles also landed wide receiver Javonte Seabury from Orlando. FSU also has a great chance of getting five star cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who dropped into FSU's final day of camp. This is shaping up to be another top 5 recruiting class for the Noles and head coach Jimbo Fisher, and more success well in the future.

7/18/13: All eyes in the ACC will be on Florida State this season, as the Seminoles are being picked to be the conference champion again. It will be a new look for the team, as many assistants left for promotions, including former defensive coordinator Mark Stoops who is now the head coach at Kentucky. Also, about a dozen Seminoles are now in the NFL, including quarterback E.J. Manuel (Buffalo Bills, 1st round). Redshirt freshman Famous Jamious is expected to replace Manuel and bring more athleticism to the position - and he already has Nole fans excited after the clinic he put on in the Spring Game.

7/4/13: Good news for the Seminoles and their fans. The school is almost finished with the indoor practice facility that has been needed for so long. FSU has always practiced outside, but severe thunderstorms and even hurricanes that come out of the Gulf of Mexico and hit the Florida Panhandle often lead to cancelled practices - and that does not include the treacherous heat and humidity of the area in the summer and fall months. Head coach Jimbo Fisher made this a priority when he took the job, and was able to get strong support from boosters to build the facility. It puts them on par with other major programs and will contribute to the Noles ongoing success.

6/27/13: Last year, Florida State's defense was hit hard by injuries and player dismissals (looking at you, Greg Reid). However, the 'next man up' theory worked well here as a result of FSU's stellar recruiting (nice to meet you Tank Carradine, now do well in the NFL). But the offense is starting to get hit this season. Tight end Kevin Haplea will miss the season with a torn ACL. The injury occured during voluntary summer workouts when his feet got tangled up with another player. Haplea was expected to take a bigger role in the Seminole's offense this season, which has used the tight end much more under Jimbo Fisher than under legendary coach Bobby Bowden.

6/20/13: The Seminoles landed a coup when they got five star linebacker Matthew Thomas to sign a few months ago. Then it turned a bit bad. Thomas wanted out of his commitment and to go elsewhere, presumably USC. However, after speaking with the coaching staff, Thomas is staying and appears committed to continuing the Seminole excellence on defense. He may not play right away, but he will be a force to be reckoned with during his time at FSU. The Noles also received a verbal commitment from Jacob Pugh, another highly sought after linebacker (who is from Tallahassee).

6/6/13: When Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher hired Jeremy Pruitt to replace Mark Stoops as defensive coordinator, many questioned the decision. Stoops is now the head coach of Kentucky, and did a fantastic job as the Noles DC. But Pruitt is proving up to the challenge of the prestigious position. He was able to land Jakob Pugh, one of the top ranked linebacker prospects, to FSU. Though it is still just a verbal commitment, it shows that Pruitt and Fisher can recruit, and the Noles expect another top 10 recruiting class this season. 11 Seminoles were drafted by NFL teams in April - the most of any school, so it is obvious for those players who want to play on Sundays, that FSU is a good place to train.

5/23/13: A little love for the Florida State football offensive scheme from former starting QB E.J. Manuel. After going through his first rookie minicamp with the Buffalo Bills, he said the Bills offensive playbook was simple and very easy when compared to the Seminoles offense. Some people took that at as a shot at Noles head coach Jimbo Fisher, but it sounds more like a complement. FSU runs a pro-style offense, which better prepares QBs for the NFL than spread offenses. Enjoy the simplicity for now, E.J, it will likely get a whole lot more complicated and a lot faster very soon.

5/9/13: FSU wide receiver Marvin Bracy has decided to turn pro. In track. Bracy has world class speed and decided that he want to pursue a career running around an oval rather than catching balls. Bracy was one of the most highly recruited prospects coming out of high school, primarily for his speed. Racing for FSU in February, Bracy recorded one of the world's fastest time in the indoor 60 yard dash at an astonishing 6.54 seconds. FSU should not suffer too much. The team has four of their top five receivers returning next season, including Rashad Green, who led the team with 57 catches.

5/2/13: The reigning Orange Bowl and ACC Champion Florida State Seminoles showed up big at the NFL draft. A record 11 Seminoles were selected in the draft, more than any other program. Among them, QB EJ Manual, Bjorn Werner, and Xavier Rhodes went in the first round. This gives credence the belief that the Noles are back on the college football map. The fact that they play a pro-style offense and have a reputation for tenacious defense is a lure for top high school recruits that want to play on Sundays one day - and their recent recruiting classes reflect that mindset.

4/24/13: The battle for the starting quarterback position for the Seminoles seems to be taking care of itself. Redshirt sophomore Jameis Winston stepped into the spring game last week and threw for three touchdown. He electirfied the offense and the crowd with his onfield heroics. Meanwhile, junior Clint Trickett was serviceable, but the buzz is with Winston. Trickett announced that he was transferring just days after the spring game, and would like a chance to start before his college career is over. Meanwhile, the Florida State faithful are all amped up about the possibility of having Winston for a couple years and all he could accomplish.

4/18/13: The Seminoles will have four representatives from their 2012 season in New York City for the NFL Draft, including E.J. Manuel and Bjorn Werner. Losing that kind of leadership may damage a team that just made a big step last season by winning its first BCS bowl game in seven years. Additionally, the Noles are bringing in a whopping seven new assistant coaches. But the team seems confident that they can build on last year's success and do better in 2013. Clint Tricket is expected to be the starting QB, but he may have competition from a redshirt sophomore.

4/4/13: The Seminoles held their first spring scrimmage and head coach Jimbo Fisher was fairly tight lipped about the results. FSU lost six assistant coaches in the off season, and replacing them will not be easy. They also lost star defensive tackle Bjorn Werner (to the NFL draft) and starting quarterback E.J. Manual (graduation, and the draft). The Noles figure to have several players drafted by NFL teams around the country in a couple weeks, and it will be no easy feat to replace that kind of talent. Still, many believe they will be better next season, and cruise to another ACC title.

3/21/13: The Seminoles held their annual Pro Day on Tuesday, March 19, and showcased the talents of a whopping 14 players. Participating were stars like QB E.J. Manuel, defensive lineman Bjorn Werner, and former cornerback Greg Reid. Representatives from all 32 teams were on hand to watch the workouts. Manuel continues to move up draft boards across the NFL, particularly since there is not a lot of QB competition this year. He has now been asked to attend the Draft in New York in April - as he is expected to be a rather early draft pick - possibly by the Arizona Cardinals or New York Jets.

2/7/13: The Noles finished with another top-10 recruiting class, which is truly remarkable considering they lost a whopping six assistant coaches since the end of the regular season. Two big 'gets' were linebacker Michael Thomas out of Miami, who chose FSU over the Hurricanes and cornerback Jalen Ramsey of Chattenooga, who the Noles flipped from USC. The big loss was wide receiver Stacy Coley as well as offensive linemen Austin Golson (Ole Miss) and Denver Kirkland (Arkansas). Other players of note include defensive end Demarcus Walker, guard Ira Denson, and wide receiver Jesus Wilson. The continued influx of talent ensures that FSU will stay atop of the ACC.

1/31/13: Former Seminoles quarterback E.J. Manuel played his final football game in college in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, capturing Most Outstanding Player honors. Manuel threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another as his South team beat the north 21-16. Manuel will now return home to Virginia to be with his mother who just completed chemotherapy for breast cancer and is about to undergo surgery. Considering his performance in the Orange Bowl and Senior Bowl, and the lack of QBs in the draft, his stock may rise to the first or second round in the April draft.

1/10/13: Many people scoffed when the Northern Illinois Huskies of the Mid America Conference was invited to the Orange Bowl. Several others thought that the Seminoles would be uninspired, that they would overlook the Huskies, and that they were primed for an upset. Then the game was played. FSU dominated the Orange Bowl, ran up 534 yards and won easily 31-10. NIU was simply out-manned and should not have been a BCS game. The win was FSU's 12th of the season and first BCS bowl win since 2005, and sets the Noles up for another strong recruiting class.

1/3/13: In the weeks leading up to the Discover Orange Bowl, many experts assumed that the Seminoles would not be interested in the game against Northern Illinois. FSU proved them wrong with a decisive 31-10 victory that proved that the Huskies did not belong in a BCS game. The Seminoles put up over 500 yards of offense and limited NIU to about 250 yards total. The victory gave FSU 12 wins on the season and their first BCS bowl win since 2006. After the game, junior cornerback Xavier Rhodes announced that he would forego his senior year and will enter the NFL draft.

12/27/12: With less than a week until the Orange Bowl, the speculation is mounting on whether several Seminole juniors will declare for the NFL draft and leave early. At least four juniors, including star defensive end Bjorn Werner and cornerback Xavier Rhodeswill likely be drafted with the opportunity to play on Sundays. Additionally, there are 10 more who may decide to try the professional ranks. Werner could be among the top five picks in the April draft, which would make him the highest drafted German born player ever. But all the possible pros have decided not to speak about their career decisions until after the Orange Bowl.

12/20/12 Rumor is that FSU has found their replacement for Mark Stoops. Stoops, the younger brother of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, announced he was leaving the program to be the head coach at Kentucky following the ACC Championship Game. His replacement appears to be Jeremy Pruitt, who is currently the Defensive Backs Coach at Alabama. Head Coach Jimbo Fisher acknowledged that he met with Pruitt, but has not announced the hire, which may not come until after Alabama plays Notre Dame in the BCS Championship Game on January 8. Meanwhile, FSU is preparing to play Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl on January 1.

12/13/12: FSU's defense was among the top ranked units this past season, and has improved steadily for the past three years. The architect of the defense is Mark Stoops, who has left the Defensive Coordinator job at FSU for the head coaching job at Kentucky. Stoops is the brother of Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops, but has emerged from his older brother's shadow as a top defensive mind. It is Mark Stoops' first head coaching job. While Kentucky is not a strong football program, it is in the SEC and a great opportunity to rebuild the team.

12/6/12: The bowl match-ups are all set, and FSU is heading back to the Orange Bowl. The Seminoles defeated Georgia Tech 21-15 in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, scoring all of their points in the first half. GT made a game of it late, but the Noles defense shut down the Yellow Jackets running game and held on. FSU will play in its 9th Orange Bowl on January 1. Rather than playing the Big East champion, the Seminoles will face the Northern Illinois Huskies out of the Mid America Conference (MAC), who qualified by finishing in the top 16 in the BCS standings.

11/29/12: FSU football took a big hit last Saturday when the Florida Gators beat the Seminoles in Tallahassee. Poor play early put the Noles down by 13 at the half. FSU took the lead in the second half, but a vicious hit to quarterback EJ Manual forced a fumble. A UF touchdown on the next play effectively sealed the game. FSU now travels to Charlotte to play Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship, with a birth to the Orange Bowl on the line. Additionally, Defensive Coordinator Mark Stoops has accepted the head coaching job at Kentucky and will leave the team following the ACC Championship.

11/22/12: FSU completed the formality of locking up the ACC Atlantic Division by dismantling a lowly Maryland team that was starting a linebacker at quarterback. The Noles finished conference play 7-1, tied with Clemson for the best record. However, they own the head-to-head matchup with the Tigers, and will go to the ACC Championship Game against Georgia Tech. But first, the No. 10 Noles will host their arch rival, the No. 4 UF Gators in a game that has BCS Championship implications. Expect the FSU defense to wreak havoc on the Gators' offense, and move up the BCS standings.

11/15/2012: FSU didn't beat Virginia Tech so much as survive. Playing in a hostile environment, on a national Thursday night game, against a talented but underachieving team, on the road - well, anything could happen. And it almost did. E.J. Manual's touchdown pass to Rashad Green with 40 seconds left gave FSU the final lead and save the Noles' season. FSU could not get past VA Tech's blitzes for most of the night, and actually had -20 rushing yards. But they did exploit the blitz when they needed to, and won a crucial game. Now, just beat Maryland at home and go to the ACC Championship Game.

11/8/12: The Seminoles enjoyed a bye week and still have the inside track over Clemson for the division title in the ACC. FSU's only loss was and unexpected upset by North Carolina State. The loss likely derailed any national championship aspirations, but a trip the ACC Championship and the Orange Bowl are still in line. The Seminoles next test comes tonight on the road against Virginia Tech. Th

News

November 17, 2014

Top 5 Games of Last Week (11/10/14 - 11/16/14)

For about the past four weeks, this column could've been a Top 10 list with no significant drop off between games. This week marked the first notable downturn in quality of games. #5. Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals I haven't given the Cardinals their due this year, and so I'm giving them the five spot to…

I was forced to leave so much off of this week's list: Peyton's 509th TD, West Virginia upsetting Baylor and Utah overcoming Oregon State in double OT. But hey, it's a Top 5, not a Top 8. These are th…

Florida State has one of the more heralded college football programs in the last 25 years, but most of that reputation was rooted in the team's two national championships during the 1990s. Going into …